Ball State University
Northern Illinois University
WBB Travles To Northern Illinois Wednesday For First Of Two MAC Road Games This Week
February 23, 2021 | Women's Basketball
Ball State (11-9, 9-7 MAC) vs. Northern Illinois (11-8, 9-5 MAC)
DeKalb, Ill. | Convocation Center
Watch: ESPN+Â | Listen:Â Muncie Sports Station (102.9 FM/1340 AM)Â | Live Stats
Game Notes: Ball State | Northern Illinois
Opening Tip:
• Senior forward Oshlynn Brown needs three rebounds to break the Ball State women's basketball all-time scoring record which has been held by former Cardinal Emma Jones since 1987 with a total of 1,028 rebounds. Brown currently has 1,026 career rebounds. She reached the 1,000 rebound plateau on Feb. 13 in a 79-77 victory at Miami. That game, Brown became only the second player in program history to score 1,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds.Â
• This will mark the 61st meeting in a series that began in 1982-83 when the Cardinals defeated the Huskies 86-83 on Jan. 26 in DeKalb, Ill. The Cardinals lead the all-time series record 38-22. The last time the two met was in Muncie, Ind. on Feb. 8 resulting in a 78-74 win for the Huskies.Â
• Ball State ninth-year head coach Brady Sallee has won 13 of the last 18 meetings against the Huskies dating back to his first season at the helm in 2012-13.
• Both teams are looking to get back on the winning track on Wednesday night in DeKalb. Northern Illinois recently suffered back-to-back losses to Kent State while the Cardinals split their two-game series against Buffalo.
• Could history repeat itself, it looks that way. More than likely Oshlynn Brown will grab her three rebounds she needs to become Ball State women's basketball's all-time leading rebounder and ironically it was also the Huskies that the Cardinals were playing when former BSU forward Nathalie Fontaine (2012-16) broke the all-time scoring record at Ball State back on March 2, 2016.
In The Nation:
Senior forward Oshlynn Brown currently ranks seventh in the nation in double-doubles (12), 10th in defensive rebounds per game (8.5) and 29th in total rebounds (190). Brown is also currently third on the list of active NCAA DI for career double-double leaders with 45. The Cardinals rank seventh in the nation in free throw attempts and eighth in free throws made.
In the MAC:
Senior forward Oshlynn Brown ranks first in rebounding in Mid-American Conference games only, averaging 12.3 per contest and is seventh in scoring with 20.3 ppg. Sophomore guard Sydney Freeman is third in assists (4.8 apg) while the team is second in field goal percentage (.453). Ball State is in eighth place right now in the current standings.
2021Â MAC Tournament:
Since the Mid-American Conference did away with the MAC East and West Divisions this year, the upcoming MACÂ Tournament will no longer have first round play in games. Instead, the top eight teams will go straight to Cleveland. The quarterfinals will begin on March 10 at 11 a.m. in Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse with the semfinals being played on Friday, March 12 and then the championship game on Saturday, March 13 at 11 a.m. ET.
Scouting NIU:
• The Huskies are led by head coach Lisa Carlson who is in her sixth season at Northern Illinois.Â
• Northern Illinois always has that one player you have to look out for when it comes to scoring. Last year it was forward Courtney Woods that the Cardinals had to concentrate on and this year it is sophomore Chelby Koker who leads the team in scoring averaging 20.4 points per contest. She is one of only two Huskies that is currently averaging double figures. The Cardinals need slow down Koker's scoring pace and also do a better job of rebounding to win Wednesday's game over the Huskies.
• Three-point shooting is one of NIU's strong suits this season. The Huskies rank first in three-point shooting category amongst the Mid-American Conference averaging 40 percent. The Huskies also lead the league in rebounding offense (44.4) and defense (30.9).
Next Game:
Ball State heads on the road one last time in regular season action when it closes out that portion of its schedule Saturday, Feb. 27 at Toledo. The game is set to tip-off at noon in Savage Arena. After that, the Cardinals have two more home regular season games left as BSU hosts Central Michigan at 7 p.m. in Worthen Arena on March 3 and then Western Michigan on March 4 at 1 p.m. ET. That game the Cardinals will recognize their three seniors Oshlynn Brown, Katie Helgason and Maliah Howard-Bass.
Players Mentioned
